This e-mail arrived from Mark B., a former teacher and coach at Cretin-Derham Hall, in the wake of pro wrestler Mad Dog Vachon's death earlier this week:

"THE OLD DAYS always seem better from the rearview mirror. I am hoping you will do more on Mad Dog Vachon and the old days of pro wrestling at the Channel 11 studio inside the Calhoun Beach Club.

My mom got us tickets when I was a teenager, and Mad Dog was handling a patsy, maybe "the very capable Kenny Jay.''

In walked The Crusher with a bag of dog food, tossing it in the ring and saying, "Here, doggie.'' After pinning his man, Mad dog jumped the rope and hit The Crusher with a metal folding chair, blood flying.

We went up after to see if it was ketchup; nope, real blood.

Afterward. when we filed out of the studio through the narrow hallway, there were Mad Dog and Crusher sitting together in the TV control room, laughing and drinking a beer.

The shock of my dad explaining that wrestling was fake was horrible.''

Here's good news for Mark: George Shire, the expert on old-time pro wrestling, will be a guest with Reusse and Zulgad today at 10:30 on Saturday Morning Sports Talk to talk about Mad Dog's legacy as a wrestler in Minnesota.

Patrick Reusse has been covering sports in the Twin Cities since 1968. He co-hosts SportsTalk from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and hosts The Ride with Reusse from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. He also co-hosts "Saturday Morning SportsTalk" from 10 a.m. to noon on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.Email Patrick | @1500ESPN_reusse | The Ride with Reusse